February 2012
14 posts
Sheriff’s wife earns thousands through no-bid deal...
In an arrangement made possible through personal friendship, Municipal Court’s chief judge gave Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s wife a no-bid, exclusive deal to counsel low-level drug offenders, earning her more than $28,000 over the past 10 months for the part-time work.
Renee Gusman
Renee Gusman owns a counseling company called Bright Side LLC, and she has counseled every person who...
Rats, roaches and flies found at some...
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer
Your kid’s public-school cafeteria may not be as clean as you think.
Although the majority of New Orleans’ public-school cafeterias have gotten out of recent health inspections with little noted beyond a few run-down kitchen appliances, 36 of 82 public schools in state files were cited as having critical violations of state health code in 2011 and...
City rails against trimming mental-health care;...
By Tom Gogola, The Lens staff writer |
New Orleans city officials are aggressively pushing back against a “devastating” proposed $15 million cut to inpatient mental health and substance abuse services now being offered at LSU Interim Hospital.
The cuts were included in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s recent budget, and they are part of an effort to close a $251 million state budget shortfall this year....
RSD releases report on equal access
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer
The Recovery School District released its 2012 Equity Report today in an attempt to provide a one-stop-shop for parents looking for data regarding equal access for students.
RSD Superintendent Patrick Dobard said district officials believe the data will better inform parents applying for schools through the new OneApp enrollment process, which...
City to Planning Commish: We’ve got this one
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer |
When a discussion of the Lafitte Greenway arose during today’s City Planning Commission meeting, panel member Lou Volz asked why he had to learn from the news media – not the planning staff – about changes sought by the planned Winn-Dixie grocery store on North Carrollton Avenue.
The Lens reported two weeks ago on the request by Winn-Dixie to cross the...
Demolition request comes from odd source
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer
A plumber with headquarters on Broad Street did his best to follow the rules when he filed an application to demolish a building in a historic area – except that it’s not his property.
The fiancée of the owner was at a recent hearing of the Historic District Landmarks Commission, and she said she’s living there and that neither she nor the owner want...
NORD Commission picks new director; interim chief...
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer
The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission tonight appointed interim director Vic Richard as its new chief executive after a special hearing where the four finalists were interviewed.
All but one member of the commission, Bobby Garron, who abstained, voted for Richard’s appointment. The commission hired a headhunter for $42,500 and took 93...
Sheriff’s deputy indicted after inmate says...
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer
A former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s deputy accused in September of forcing an inmate to perform oral sex after handcuffing him and taking him to a jail closet has been indicted on charges of second-degree kidnapping, sexual battery and malfeasance in office.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman fired former Sheriff’s Deputy Dejuan Thomas following the alleged...
Because of Winn-Dixie: City lets grocery add...
By Ariella Cohen and Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writers
Over the objections of Lafitte Greenway advocates, Mayor Mitch Landrieu has granted Winn-Dixie permission to cut a short roadway across the long-planned bike and pedestrian path so the grocery store can connect with a satellite parking lot.
Cars will be able to cross the greenway between North Carrollton Avenue and David Street, to...
The Lens receives $85,000 grant from Ethics and...
We are thrilled to announce that the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation announced Friday that The Lens had been awarded $85,000 to build capacity of reporting, board, staff, social media, fundraising and back-office operations.
Two of our partner organizations under the Investigative News Network also received funding. The Rocky Mountain Investigative News Network received $100,000...
Group stripped of charter introduces McDonogh 42...
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer
Despite a vow by a failed charter operator to fight the state’s revocation of its contract to run McDonogh No. 42, , an attitude of cordiality prevailed at tonight’s open-house to introduce parents to the new charter operator.
Treme Charter School Association officials, who will continue running the school for the next several months, warmly welcomed...
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Anxious Algiers residents seek answers to crime...
By Kelsey Foster, The Lens contributing writer
A day after a good Samaritan was shot and killed while trying to stop a carjacking in Algiers Point, a beefed-up police presence was evident in the usually quiet West Bank neighborhood, as police cars trolled the streets and a helicopter circled above.
But the efforts of the New Orleans Police Department weren’t enough to calm the nerves of...
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NORD finalist asks for public discussion
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer |
One of the finalists to run the city’s recreation program asked this week that a discussion of his candidacy be held in public, rather than in a closed-door session of the screening committee, city records show.
Two days after that request, a subcommittee of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission canceled its private session, where members were...
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Despite recent practices, NOPD silent on arrest...
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer
In what appears to be a departure from the recent New Orleans Police Department practice of releasing criminal records of homicide victims, the department has not released the arrest record of the Good Samaritan killed in an Algiers carjacking Wednesday.
Superintendent Ronal Serpas has been widely criticized for releasing the records of victims, in some...